Whitley County voters will be getting a new Whitley County Clerk in 2027 as incumbent Carolyn Willis is opting not to seek another term in office.
“After much thought and consideration, I have made the decision to retire. Serving the people of this county has truly been an honor and a privilege, and I am profoundly grateful for the trust and support I have received throughout my time in office. While I will not be seeking re-election, I remain committed to carrying out my duties with dedication and integrity for the remainder of my term. It has been a blessing to work on behalf of this community, and I thank you all for the opportunity to serve,” Willis wrote in a statement to the News Journal.
Willis, who had nearly 26 years of experience at the time, was first appointed as interim county clerk on Dec. 2, 2019, following the retirement of long time Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz.
She served out the remainder of Schwartz’s term in office and was unopposed when she ran for the position in 2022. Her current term in office will expire on Dec. 31, 2026.
First-District Magistrate Scotty Harrison announced on Facebook that he filed Thursday to run for Whitley County Clerk.
“First, I want to say that I have loved serving as one of your magistrates because I have gotten to know so many of you and have also enjoyed being of service to our community. That being said, another opportunity to serve has come up that I would love to pursue. After learning our current Whitley County Clerk, Carolyn Willis and her decision to not run again, I have decided to throw my hat into the ring, and I filed today for that position,” Harrison wrote Thursday.
“I ask for everyone’s backing going forward with this new chapter in mine and Leah’s (and of course our kids’) lives. Thank you for your past support, and I hope to continue to earn your future support for the position of Whitley County Clerk!”
